Emer Currie (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. The response is disappointing. I know it is not his fault but I feel like we are going backwards. The need for a school has been identified, but the response does not acknowledge that. I will now go back to a community to tell it that despite the fact we thought there would be a secondary school and everyone was on the same page, it turns out we are not and we must now go through the process of collecting data and pushing for it. We are much further behind than we thought.

We are all aware that this is an area of significant growth. The community needs the facilities. I have previously spoken in the Chamber about the fact that none of the schools in the area have DEIS status, which is a major problem. The area requires our support from a social cohesion and integration point of view. It needs social infrastructure to help it grow. Children should not leave the community or electoral area to go to school. It is a problem that we need to sort out as a matter of urgency.